Survey of eating habits and behaviors during weaning of subjects with ED

Abstract

Goals

Weaning is, in addition to the most strictly nutritional aspects, a delicate and "sensitive" phase of growth and development, able to influence the child's relationship with the adults who care for him and his eating behavior, even in the long term.

The aim of the study is to investigate the eating habits and behaviors during early childhood, of subjects affected by Eating Disorders (ED), noting particularly the weaning methods.

The results were then compared with a similar study conducted on a group of individuals who did not have a diagnosis of ED (control group).

Methods

The survey was conducted on two groups of adolescent females aged between 12 and 24 years. The case group consists of 30 subjects followed at the Centro Arianna of Pisa and the Fondazione Stella Maris of Calambrone. The control group is also made up of 30 people recruited in the seaside town of Rosignano Marittimo (Livorno, Italy). For both groups age, birth weight, age of menarche, and in the event of an Eating Disorder, age of onset of the disorder, were assessed.

Questionnaire

We modified the Test ICAP ‑ (Detecting Problematic Eating Behaviour) “Individuazione Comportamenti Alimentari Problematici” and obtained a questionnaire that was used as a survey method. The questionnaire consists of 35 divided questions in two parts, one about food and one behavioral.

FOOD: it relates to the weight trend in the early years, the timing of breastfeeding and weaning.

BEHAVIOR: demonstrate the attitude of the child at the table (if he was sitting, if he was distracted, if he was eating fast or slowly) and family meals in general (if they were consumed all together and at the same time).

The questionnaire was given to mothers and fathers or other family members of the subjects of both groups.

Results

One of the questionnaire questions asked whether the child up to 3 years of life was overweight. The results showed a significant difference between the two groups: the overweight is associated with the control group. Regarding breastfeeding, even though there is no significance, about 40% of both groups have not been breastfed despite the fact that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life as a public health practice for the entire world population. Although there is no significance, one important point to note is that about 40% of both groups have been weaned before six months of life, despite the fact that the European Food Safety Authority suggests that breast milk is sufficient to meet the needs nutrition in most infants up to 6 months. Parents were asked if they re-proposed to their daughter food previously refused, and although the results are not significant, it is important to note that most of the two groups have not re-proposed the foods. The questionnaire investigated the use of the pacifier and there is a significant difference between the two groups, in particular, the use of the pacifier is associated with the control group. A significance trend has been observed associating to the case group who has been forced to eat. In the questionnaire we also investigated the context of family meals, the non-sharing of family meals with patients with Eating Disorders was significant. Finally, we found an association between those who did not eat meals with the family and those who were forced to eat, neglecting that mealtime is one of the most significant aspects of life.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that some behaviours adopted by parents during weaning are significantly present in cases with Eating Disorder diagnosis.